Manufacture of ingot iron and steel



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. REESE.

- MANUPAGTURE OEINGOT IRON AND STEEL.

170,267,717. Patented Nov. 21, 1882.-

min- 5555 (No Model.) I 4Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. REESE. V

MANUFACTURE OF mam? IRON AND STEEL. No. 267,717. Patented 170121. 1882',

l HE m v 4 Sheets-Sheet -3.

J. REESE.

MANUFACTURE OF INGOT IRON AND STEEL.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

N. PFIERS. Pmmmw n hm. Walhinglan. D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. REESE.

MANUFACTURE 0E meow IRON AND STEEL. No. 267,717. Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

-L i i n e M? u /EM.

verter.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB nnns'E,-oFP1TTsBURc, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF INGOT IRON AND STEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,717, dated November 21, 1882,

Application filed January 12, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB REESE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Ingot Iron and Steel Direct from the Blast-Furnace 5 anti 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accoinpanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 on Plate 1 indicates a front elevation of aportion of my improved plant, showing a blast-furnace, regenerating hotblast stoves, blast-connections, and. gas-stack, to gether with two portable converters mounted on converter-trucks and a locomotive on a railway arranged in such a manner that the converters may be removed to and charged direct with the molten metal as it flows from the hearth of the blast-furnace and then conveyed back into the converting-house. Fig. 2 on Plate 2 indicates a front elevation of the portable converter and the converter-truck when run into position to deposit the trunnions of the converter into the trunnion-journals of the converter-frame, and a hydraulic ram for lowin g the converter and converter-truck. It also indicates a side elevation of an improved apparatus for connecting and disconnecting the blast-conduit with the trunnion of the con- Fig. 3 on Plate 3 indicates a side elevation of the portable converter, convertertruck, the adjustable section of railway between the standards of the converter-frame, and the hydraulic ram for elevating the railway-track to lift the converter onto the truck and out of its trunnion-bearings. The dotted lines represent the position of the track and ram when down. Fig. 4 on Plate 4 indicates a side elevation of the converter, withits blast-pipe leadingfrom the trunnion down into the tuyerebox, showing its manner of removal to and from the blast-furnace on the converter-truck, which is provided with an iron frame of a suitable form to engage the back of the converter and hold it securely during transportation. Fi g. 5 indicates a front elevation of the same. Fi g. 6, Sheet 2, is a sectional view of the closed sleeve and blast-nozzle, showing their operation.

(N0 model.)

Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

Heretofore it has been the common. practice to produce Bessemer steel by smelting the-ores in the blast-furnace, running the metal into pigs, remelting the metal in a silicious-lined cupola, transferring it to the converter by a silicious-lined ladle or troughs, and then decarburizin'g, desiliconizing,deoxygenizin g, and recarburizing the metal. In the practice of that method the metal takes up a considerable amount of silica from the sand molds when cast at the blast-furnace, and when :remelted takes up a portion of silica from the lining of the cupola, a portion from the ash of the fuel, and a portion from the lining of the ladle or troughs, and consequently a considerable amount of silicic acid is carried with the metal into the converter. The presence of this acid in the converter is highly objec'ti'onal when steel is to be produced by the basic process, as silicicacid is very destructive to the lime lining, requires the presence of larger basic additions for its neutralization, and retards dephosphorization'. Besides this defect, when metal is remelted'for the use of the basic process anotherand a serious defect occurs-that is, that from forty to fifty per cent. of the carbon is eliminated, and there is a considerable loss of manganese in reinelting.

. Myinvention consists of an improved method of working the metal direct from the blast-furnace by running it into a portable converter mounted on a converter railway-truck, then conveying the converter into the convertinghouse, depositing it into the trunnion-journals of the converter-frame, forming the blast-connections, bessemerizing the metal in the usual manner, and, when the metal has been cast, disconnecting the blast-conduit and removing the converter to receive a fresh charge at the blast-furnace. Myinventiou furtherconsists in an improved construction and arrangement of apparatus'adapted to the'use of the said process.

The chief objects of the invention are to overcome the defects of the indirect method previously described, as applied to the basic process, and to secure greater economy and the production of a better quality of steel by the use of either the acid or basic process.

In order to secure these objects and to carry out my method of treatment, I propose to do away with a portion of the present Bessemer plant, by discarding the c'upolas for remelting the metal, the hoists for lifting the pig up to the cupola, and the troughs for carrying the molten metalinto the converters, and in place of such arrangements use a portable converter, a special converter-truck for carrying the converter, and arailway runningfrom theblast-furnace to the converting-house at such an elevation andarrangement that themolten metalmay be tapped direct into the converter, and when run into the converting-house the car and converter may be lowered down,bya-hydraulic ram or other suitable device, to bring the trunnions of the converter into their bearingsin the converter-frame and to withdraw the truck when converting-house.

the converter is in position. i

I shall now describe the construction and arrangementof an improved apparatus adapted to the use of my invention, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may make and use the same.

In the drawings, A indicates an improved blast-furnace plant, and a indicates a section of the railway connecting the furnace with the This portion of the railway is arranged at such a relative plane with the furnace as to allow the molten metal to flow direct into the mouth of the converters a, which are mounted on the converter-trucks a These converter-trucks a are provided with a frame of cast or wrought iron of a shape to correspond with the shape of the back of the converters,so as to hold them securely without bringing any strain on the tuyere-box or the blast-pipe leading from the trunnion intothe tuyere-box, and thus avoid the necessity of clamping the converters to the trucks during transportation.

a indicates acap-piecc to fit over the mouth of a converter as soon as charged, in order to prevent the escape of caloric from the metal during its transportation from the furnace to the converting-house.

B indicates the locomotive used for convey: ing the trucks and converters into the converting-house.

In Sheets 2 and 3, 0 indicates an adjustable section of the track a. This adjustable sec tion communicates with the track a at the rear of the converter-frames, where it rests ona pivotal connection supported by boxes secured to upright frames, and the end of the track a is also supported by brackets riveted to these frames. The forward part of the adjustable track-section c rests on a cross-plate,

i low-blocks c and 0 in order that the ram may E (shown in Fig. 2) indicates an apparatus ram'or other suitable motor attached to the end of a hollow blast-nozzle, e, which works in a close sleeve, 6. The forward part or end of this blast-nozzle e is beveled to secure a tight joint when the ram forcesit forward into the beveled blast-opening ot' the convertertrunnion, and it is provided with a lateral slot or opening at the rear end of the bore, which is brought into line with a blast-opening, 6 in the side of the sleeve when the blastnozzle is forced forward, and forms the joint with the converter-trunnion,thus admitting the blast into the nozzle, and through it into the converter-'trunniomso that it will be seen thatthe blastis automatically ad mitted into and excluded from the blast-nozzle, in its forwardand -backward movement,in forming and detaching the blastconnection with the converter.

I have shown an apparatus for elevating and lowering the end of the adjustable tracksection to bring the converter into its bearings on the converter-frame. This apparatus is especially adapted for this purpose; but I do not wish to confine myself to its use, as there are other mechanical devices for lifting which may be applied, and will operate in a more or less perfect manner; nor do I wish to confine myself to any peculiar construction of converter, nor arrangement for disconnecting and connecting the blast-conduit from the converter-trunnion, as it is evident that other devices may be used to carryout my method; but in practice it will be found that the particular construction shown and described may be more readily and quickly adjusted, and will form a more perfect blast-connection with the trunnion than could be secured by the use of other devices.

In the practice of my improvement I propose to use several converters to each converter-frame, in order that a fresh charge of metal in a converter may always be ready while the charge in the preceding converter is being treated, and also to allow the withdrawal of one or more of the converters to a separate shop for relining or repairs without disturbing the operation of the plant. The converters shouldall be of a standard form and size, so far as the trunnions are concerned, in order that they may fit readily into the trunnionbearings in the converter-frames; but they may be made ofdifferent internal capacity, if desired.

In the operation of my improvement'a converter is placed on one of the trucks and conveyed to the blast furnace. The metal is charged into the converter and the cap is placed over its mouth. The converter is then conveyed and run into the converting-house, mouth foremost, until the wheels of the truck are stopped against the turned-up rails at the end of the adjustable track-section, which stop too the converter in the proper place for lowering it into its trunnion-bearings. The end of the adjustable track-section is then lowered by means of the hydraulic ram 0. The trunnions of the converter become deposited in their bearings in the converter-frame, and the gearwheel on the end of one of the trunnious meshes into a rack, so that a connection is formed for moving the converter on its trunnions in the ordinary manner. The blast-connections are then made by forcing the blastnozzle into the blast-opening in the converter. The truck is withdrawn and the converter is turned up and the charge is treated in the usual manner. When the converter is emptied the blast-nozzle is drawn back from the trunnion, the truck is run under the converter, and it is withdrawn to the furnace to receive a fresh charge. In the meantime another converter held in waiting is run in, placed in position, and a second bath of metal is treated, and in this manner a series of converters containing fresh charges are blown, so that the converting department may be kept working at as high rate of production as the facilities for handling the molds and ingots in the casting-pit will allow.

The time required to conduct the preceding operation will be about asfollows: taking a loaded converter from the outside of the converter-building and depositing it into position ready for work, three minutes; blowing, seventeen minutes; deoxygenizing and emptying the metal into the ladle, four minutes; making a total of twenty-four minutes for treating the heat and placing the converter into position, and by allowing three minutes for thewithdrawal of the converter and three minutes more for defective practice it will be seen that thirty minutes should be ample time for each heat by this method when the blast-furnaces have sufficient capacity to supply metal to keep the converters ready. This practice will be capable of giving an output of three hundred and fifty tons with a single eight-ton converterplant in twenty-two hours, leaving two hours per day for repairs, or seven hundred tons with a two eight-ton converter-plant, the output possible being nearly double the practice in this country.

In the initial practice of my invention it is desirable that the converters should be first placed in position and heated in the usual manner, and that the caps should be placed over their months after they have been charged at the blast-furnace; but after the first blow they will retain sufficientheat for the succeeding charge.

In the application of my method to the manufacture of ingot iron and steel by the basic process, I line the converters with lime, successively charge them at the blast-furnaces and run them into position, add the basic additions and adjust the blast-connections, and treat the charges in the usual manner. In this operation it will be found that less lime additions will be required,the linings will last longer, and the metal will work hotter and a better product will be secured than in the usual practice. These results are due to the following facts: First, when the metal is run into pigs it takes up a considerable amount of silica from the molding-sand, and when remelted in the cupola it takes up a portion of silica from the ash of the fuel and from the silicious linings of the cupola and of the troughs which conduct it into the converter. A considerable portion of this silica enters with the metal inv to the converter and is destructive to thelime lining, requires the presence of larger basic additions fOI.'iilS neutralization but in working the metal direct these evils are avoided. Secondly,in remelting pig metal from forty to fifty per cent. of the carbon and a considerable proportion of the manganese are lost by oxidation but in the direct process all of the car bon and manganese are carried overand develop their full amount of calorie, and maintain the metal in a highly-fluid state during its treatment in the converter.

The advantages of my invention are, first, the output in the practice of the basic process maybe increased to a point equal or above that of the best acidplants now running; second, the necessity of stopping forreliningand repairing the converter and converter-bottoms, both by the basic and acid processes, is avoided by the use of my invention; third, it will render the basic process more thorough and efficient and the lime linings will last longer, and less basic additions will be required; fourth, it dispenses with the necessity of a casting-house at the blast-furnace, the cost of molding-sand, the labor of molding, casting, and ramming, and also saves the labor of breaking the pigs from the sows and loading them on the cars; tifth,it saves the scrap, which would be lost in molding and casting at the furnace, and it also saves the loss of metal which would take place in remelting; sixth, it dispenses with the cost of constructing and maintaining the cupolas, cupola-hoists, and house, economizes their room and the cost of fuel and labor for remeltin g 5 seventh, by'working the metal direct its quality may be determined within thirty minutes byasampletaken direct at the blast-furnace from the converter, and the furnace practice can be regulated quickly to produce uniformly the grade of metal desired for converting; eighth, the converters may be easily conveyed to a shop specially adapted for repairing and relining; ninth, as it dispenses with remelting, the fur nace may be run so as to produce a metal low in silicon, as the full'amount of carbon and manganese may be relied upon as caloricproducing agents when the metal is blown.

In the practice of my invention two or more acid-lined converters may be charged at the blast-furnace at the same time, as the metal will remain sufficientlyfluid for bessemerizing for a considerable length of time after it is rgo charged, and the first converter charged will be blown before the third converter is filled at the furnace.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The method herein described for producing Bessemer ingot iron and steel, which consists in charging the molten metal direct from the blast-furnace into a portable converter, running the converter into the conx'ertinghouse, depositing it on its trunnion-bearings, forming the blast-connections, and then treating the metal in the usual manner, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The method herein set forth, which consists in charging a series of converters at the blast-furnace, removing them to the converting-house, and successively depositing them in the trunnion-bearings of the converterframes, forming the blast-connections and treating each successive charge in the usual manner, and then conveying the converters, as soon as emptied, from the converting-house, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3. In a Bessemer plant, the com binatiomwith a converter-frame and detachable converter, of a vertically adjustable track-section arranged below the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a Bessemer plant, arailWay-track having an adjustable section pivoted at the rear of and terminating at the front of the'converter-frame, whereby the front end of the section may be raised or lowered by any suitable lifting and lowering device, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of a section of adjustable railway-track, pivoted at the rear of and terminating at the front of the converter-frame, with a hydraulic ram provided with trunnions resting in suitable pillow-blocks, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and tbr the purpose herein set forth.

6. The apparatus herein described for connecting and disconnecting the blast-conduit with a converter-trunnion, which consists of a closed sleeve having a lateral opening, and of a hollow blast-nozzle incased within the sleeve, and also having a lateral opening, and capable of longitudinal movement within the sleeve, whereby the blastis automatically let into the trunnion when the connection is made and cut off'when the nozzle is withdrawn,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A converter car or truck having a frame of cast or Wrought iron to conform with the shape of the back of the converter, whereby the converter is held securely and the blastpipe and tuyere-box are prevented from coming into contact with the frame of the truck during transportation.

JACOB REESE.

Witnesses:

FRANK M. REESE, WALTER 

